Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro (2025) runs on the Apple A19 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $1099 and $1299. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads — 84/100 vs 79/100 (a 5-point difference). Key differences: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 3998); the main camera is 48 MP vs 200 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,463,142 vs 2,538,751); per DXOMark lab testing, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro has the stronger camera (168 vs 157).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
What makes Apple iPhone 17 Pro better?
- Better Geekbench Single: 3895 vs 3601
- Lighter: 206g vs 214g
- Cheaper at launch: $1099 vs $1299
- Better camera (94/100 vs 86/100)
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3463142 vs 2538751
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10686 vs 9988
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 3998 mAh
- Faster charging: 60W vs 40W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- Higher performance (96/100 vs 92/100)
- Longer battery life (61/100 vs 37/100)
- Better display (88/100 vs 85/100)
- Better portability (51/100 vs 47/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 5 points higher (84/100 vs 79/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (61/100 vs 37/100). Value score: Apple iPhone 17 Pro — 68/100, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 78/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro are nearly equal (96/100 vs 92/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro are nearly equal (88/100 vs 85/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is a bit better (94/100 vs 86/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Pro (61/100 vs 37/100). In the "portability" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro are nearly equal (51/100 vs 47/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Apple iPhone 17 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 2538751 | 3463142 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3895 | 3601 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9988 | 10686 | |
| Display | 6.3" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
| Resolution | 2622x1206 | 3120x1440 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 3998 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 40W | 60W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 25W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 168 | 157 | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 200 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 48 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 18 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | iOS 26 | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3000 nits | 2600 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 150.0×71.9×8.8 mm | 163.6×78.1×7.9 mm | |
| Weight | 206 g | 214 g | |
| Launch price | $1099 | $1299 |
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
- Main: 48MP f/1.78
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 48MP
- Front: 18MP
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
- 6.3" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 2622x1206
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 3120x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
- 3998 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 9:51 hrs, total 26:48 hrs
- Wired: 40W
- Wireless: 25W
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 10:12 hrs, total 28:50 hrs
- Wired: 60W
- Wireless: 25W
Overall performance score
We compared Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads Apple iPhone 17 Pro by 26.7% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $200. Apple iPhone 17 Pro was $200 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro are nearly equal (96/100 vs 92/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro are nearly equal (88/100 vs 85/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is a bit better (94/100 vs 86/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Apple iPhone 17 Pro (61/100 vs 37/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro are nearly equal (51/100 vs 47/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone 17 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra edges out the Apple iPhone 17 Pro by just 5 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro has a MobileRank rating of 79/100, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 84/100.
Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone 17 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro leads on camera score (94/100 vs 86/100).
Should you choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro over the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, budget-conscious buyers.